Van Demaa’s Fruit Notes. 
Varieties, Methods, Culture, Prospects. 
Hard Problems Made Easy. 
The Magnolia Quince. 
1. Some persons have been selling the Magnolia quince 
around here. Do you know anything about Its origin? 2. 
What are the best five quinces for commercial purposes? 
Sprlnglleld, Ill. J. w. c. 
1. I know of no such variety of quince as the Mag¬ 
nolia, but there may be some new kind 
by that name that I have never heard 
of. I know the Magnolia pear, which 
is a new one that originated in Geor¬ 
gia. It is of the same type as the Kief- 
fer. 2. There are several very good va¬ 
rieties of the quince, but it does not seem 
to me necessary to plant five kinds in 
order to have a good collection for any 
purpose. If I should plant five kinds, 
they would be Orange, Rea, Missouri, 
Borgeat and Champion. The last is a 
very lute kind. These are not all the 
good kinds, but among the best for 
general culture. 
Ileading Back Peach Trees. 
My peach orchard, 7 years old, has borne 
two crops, but was never topped. How 
much should the trees be cut back? Would 
4 or 5 feet hurt them. J. K. D. 
Steel, Ohio. 
It is a mistake to allow peach orchards 
to go without heading back, at least in 
some degree, from the first year they are 
planted^ The proportion of the new 
growth that should be removed depends 
somewhat upon the condition of the 
trees. If they are making a thrifty 
growth, it should be headed back about 
one-third each year. This will keep the 
trees from becoming broad and tall 
trees, with the fruiting branches far 
from the body. Without seeing the trees 
it is impossible to tell just how far back 
they should be cut. It might be well to 
head them back to far below the past 
year’s growth and thus cause a new 
growth to come out, which will virtually 
make new heads to the trees. If there 
should be no crop of peaches there this 
year, it would be a very opportune time 
to do this. I have done just such work, 
with very good results. 
The Doctor Apple. 
Do you know of an apple by the name of 
Doctor De Witt? It is described in J. J. 
Thomas’s work on horticulture. I do not 
see It advertised In the catalogues, but 
would like to get some trees or grafts of It. 
Delta County, Colo. w. s. 
There is an apple called Doctor that 
originated in Pennsylvania. It has the 
names Red Doctor and De Witt for 
synonyms. As it has never been grown 
more than a very little and over a small territory, it is 
not known what kind of an apple it is for general cul¬ 
ture. The trees are not likely to be found in any 
nursery, and it is doubtful whether the scions can 
easily be found. Possibly some experiment station or 
orchard may have the trees growing. The fruit is of 
quite good quality. 
Best Cherry for Virginia. 
What Is the best, earliest and largest cherry for this lo¬ 
cality? j. w. B. 
Palls Church, Va. 
Early Richmond is the earliest cherry among the sour 
kinds, and is a very good one for both home and mar¬ 
ket use. Among the hearts, the Guigne is the very earli¬ 
est that is in general cultivation. It is often called 
Purple Guigne and some say that it should be changed 
from the French to the English form Gean, which is 
pronounced the same as Guigne, and is the simpler form. 
Neither of these Cherries is the largest, neither is any 
of the earliest, so far as I know, among the largest. 
Old or New Land for Peaches. 
We have two tracts of mountain land ; one Is old, worn-out 
and hilly; the other Is new land recently cleared of heavy 
timber ; It Is nearly level, and will be broken up with a shovel 
plow. We desire to plant one tract to peach trees this Spring. 
Which should bring best results; other conditions the same? 
Tyrone, l*a. t. j. q. 
The new land is decidedly the best for orchard pur¬ 
poses, so far as the condition of the soil is concerned. If 
the level land is not “frosty” and likely to be unsuit¬ 
able for peaches, I would advise x»lanting there. The 
stumps and roots will be disagreeable to cultivate 
among, but they would have to be worked among, no 
matter what crop was put on the land. I was through 
southern Missouri and Arkansas last month, where 
thousands of acres are being cleared every year, and 
planted to orchard at once. The trees look well. I have 
planted orchards on such land in northern Michigan 
with good success. The sprouts must be promptly dug 
up or cut off, as the case may require. If the land was 
first cultivated to some crop for a year, it would be 
in better condition for planting to orchard the next, but 
one season would be lost, unless it cannot be got in fair¬ 
ly good condition this Spring. Other things being equal, 
sloping land is best, because it gives better air drainage, 
therefore lessens danger from frost. 
Foreign Crapes in South Carolina. 
Can I hope to succeed with foreign grape vines In thlB part 
of the South (the Piedmont section of South Carolina), such 
as Tokays, Muscats, etc.? All the American kinds grow to 
perfection here. b. r. 
Anderson, S. C. 
It is possible that the Vinifera grapes may do fairly 
well at your place, but I fear that you are so high that 
the cold is too great for them there. At 
Southern Pines, N. C., I saw them doing 
moderately well, but the elevation there 
is only about (500 to 800 feet above sea 
level. For some reason not clearly 
understood, unless it be phylloxera and 
mildew, these foreign grapes do not do 
well in many eastern sections, although 
the climate is rather milder than in Ger¬ 
many, where they are successful. My 
advice is to try them in a small way. 
Arkansas Seedling Apples; Oarber Pear. 
Can you tell me anything of the follow¬ 
ing apples: Senator, Black Ben Davis, Com¬ 
merce and Champion? I would, also, like 
Information of the Garber pear. p. p. w. 
Chester Valley, Pa. 
There has been so much said lately 
about the new apples from northwestern 
Arkansas that it seems almost needless 
to say more; but there are, doubtless, 
many who would like to know more 
about them. It may be truly said of 
them in general that they are very prom¬ 
ising, and a few have already become 
standard varieties. I never saw so many 
iittractive seedling apples at one place 
as at fruit shows that I have attended 
in Arkansas. All the kinds mentioned 
by P. P. W. have been too little tried 
to enable one to say just what they are 
worth to the country at large. I believe 
they will prove valuable, judging by 
the character of the specimens examined. 
There is confusion as to their names, for 
the true name of Senator is Oliver, the 
latter being the original name in 
use for 25 years past and the one 
adopted by the Arkansas State Horticul¬ 
tural Society. Black Ben Davis is a 
name given to a variety of which the 
identity is not yet thoroughly establish¬ 
ed, but many expert pomologists are 
quite certain that it is the same as Gauo. 
Until more conclusive evidence is pro¬ 
duced, I shall remain undecided. Com¬ 
merce, or “Apple of Commerce” is an¬ 
other name given to a variety which orig¬ 
inated in Benton County, Ark., and was 
called by some Lady Pippin, and by others 
Richardson’s Red. The State Horti¬ 
cultural Society has named it Beach, and 
the effort is being made to have this 
name supersede all the others. Champion was called 
Collins for many years, and the latter name is the one 
adopted by the local authorities. 
The Garber pear is somewhat like the Kieffer, but is 
earlier. It has been condemned by some as being too 
soft for profitable shipment. Others like it very well. 
Wickson and Red June Plums in Massachusetts 
Will the Wickson and Ited June plums grow and flourish 
In Massachusetts? The Burbank, Abundance and all varie¬ 
ties of the European type do well with me. I raise plums for 
the market. a. b. h. 
Westminster, Mass. 
There is no doubt about the Wickson and Red June 
plums doing well wherever the other kinds of the 
Japan strain will succeed. The Red June is very 
AN OUN'AMENTAL TOMATO VINE GROWN BY JOHN D. GILL. FiO. 3i. 
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